fnrunner314

Ok I am new to toyotas so I am learning as I go. I searched about bottoming out and got mostly lift questions. My question is when I roll slowly over speed bumps and I come down am I hitting the bumpstop against the spring plate? It wouldnt be the shock bottoming out would it? I have felt that before on my old rig and it feels similar. Is this all part of the crappy rear suspension that I keep reading about? Is a lift of some sort the only(but good) solution for that? Thanks in advance!

ducaria

what do you drive? could be the overload springs too.

fnrunner314

Yea I guess that would be an important question.

I have a 2000 4runner with 92K and all stock suspension and new 265/75/16s. The tires helped the ride but I almost think that its about time to retire the suspension. It doesnt seem to look like the rear sags much, if at all.

BajaRunner

On the front end, you look and see if the bumpstops are making contact with the other metal side above them. The bumpstops are on the lower a-arms. Check and see if they look like they are being used.

I run a 6" lift up front, but, its at stock suspension geometry, I am using stock coils and am hitting my bumpstops right now. Its annoying.

Rather than doing a lift, you can use some newer springs, progressive rate springs or some 1" Performance Products springs. All will give you around 1" of lift and will be hardly unnoticeable.

seanz0rz

i was doing the same before i lifted my runner. turns out the rear shocks were crap. they werent even stock to the vehicle, they were aftermarket replacement.

fnrunner314

Ok so I went out and looked and the front rubber stops show no signs or wear. I measured on as level ground as I could find and it went like this:
DS:34.5 in
PS:34.5 in
RD:35.25 in
RP:34.5 in

Like I said it was as level as I could find. The suspension is all stock and going on 7 years old now. The bottoming out is coming from the rear, I know that for sure. When I come off a bump it doesnt bounce then recover, it bounces down and bottoms out and comes back up. My guess is that its bouncing off the bumpstops and the rear spring plates and not the bumpstops on the outside of the axle tube. But is this due to weak suspension?

terryjmatthew

I cut the bottom puck off of my rear bump-stops and don't bottom out nearly as much. I have noticed no ill-effects since doing so.

seanz0rz

actually thats part of the recall is to replace the 98 and earlier bumpstops with shorter ones. the reason being that in an emergency evasion swerve, the axle whould hit the bumpstop, but the inertia on the body would want it to keep going, causing tire lift and potential for roll over.

fnrunner314

So I guess i should just trim off one puck on the bumpstop in the spring? Also where is a great place for OME stuff cheap? I am thinking that I may just update the suspension and give myself a nice 2in lift! What do you all think?

terryjmatthew

www.sonoransteel.com

www.trdparts4u.com

Gerdo

The problem with cutting off the bottom puck is that is what carries your overload. I was also hitting my Jounce Bumpers and my front bump stops on speed bumps and dips. Since my mild lift, hit no more. Click on my link to see full specs. I'm glad I did my lift.

rearviewmirror

My 2000 used to hit the stops on everything... it's due to the crap stock springs. I put the OME springs/shocks all the way around now I can fly over bumpy roads or even just speed bumps with ease. I wouldn't recommend cutting the bump stops, you won't need to once you put some proper springs on it. When you see the stock spring sitting next to an OME you'll know exactly why the vehicle bottoms out all the time.

Maj

I would start with the most likely culprit and the easiest to replace - the shocks. Especially if the look aged and the back end tends to continue porposing after bumps. If that doesn't cure it go for some new springs.

97Runner

i have this same problem on my 97. i got tokiko shocks and got the new style bumpstops but that didnt seem to help much if at all. since the spring are around 10 yrs old i think im due for some new ones. when i got the new style bumpstops i didnt get the new rear spring since mines a 2WD and also the old bumpstops were left on.. i cut the old ones down but that still didnt do anything soo im needing spring suggestions now. Ive heard PP springs or "99 4WD springs but i need to know the best place to buy these springs


thanks yall

Gerdo

Springs go onto the front shocks so you might as well replace the springs also. Since you have to disconect the rear shock to install the springs you should just replace the rears also. I love my Tundra TRDs on the front and the OME 890s on the back. It is the best thing that I have done for my 4Runner.

seanz0rz

buy from sonoran steel. www.sonoransteel.com steve puts the best kits together, and has offered me lots of advise and customer service. he will always get my recommendation hands down...

97Runner

if i were to buy springs, how hard would it be for me to install them b/c the reason i havent gotten the new ones already is because the labor cost an insane amount for this area. i know i would need a spring compressor where can i rent one of those?

Gerdo

You can either have a small mom & pop auto parts store mount the springs and you install them or just borrow compressors from a store like Checker Auto.

fnrunner314

I have seen sonoransteel lift on his site but (sadly) they are a bit pricey for me right now. I can install the suspension myself with ease. Its just getting the parts together. I just puy on new tires and am still recovering from that cost.

I am newly married so my wife and I have some other pressing things to pay off first. She has short legs so I am going to get rockrails first so that she can get in and out first, then I am going to work on going up! Its just annoying to come over every speed bump and get a jolt on the downside.


My wife hates her moms 4runner becuase it is so bounce so I am tring to make mine as smooth, but pleaseing to me, as possible. I understand that the OME's offer a great ride and I guess the tundra springs do to. SO we will have to see whats around when I start to work on the 4runner.